In this Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 photo, Egyptian protesters celebrate the capture of a state security armored vehicle that demonstrators commandeered during clashes with security forces and brought to nearby Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt. On Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Egypt's army chief warns of "the collapse of the state" if political crisis continues. (AP Photo/Mohsen Bayoumy)— AP

In this Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 photo, Egyptian protesters celebrate the capture of a state security armored vehicle that demonstrators commandeered during clashes with security forces and brought to nearby Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt. On Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Egypt's army chief warns of "the collapse of the state" if political crisis continues. (AP Photo/Mohsen Bayoumy)
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A police officer holds the Egyptian national flag during clashes with anti-government protesters, background, near Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Intense fighting for days around central Tahrir Square engulfed two landmark hotels and forced the U.S. Embassy to suspend public services on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)— AP

A police officer holds the Egyptian national flag during clashes with anti-government protesters, background, near Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Intense fighting for days around central Tahrir Square engulfed two landmark hotels and forced the U.S. Embassy to suspend public services on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
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In this Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 photo, Egyptian protesters use camera phones to capture a burning state security armored vehicle that demonstrators commandeered during clashes with security forces nearby and brought to Tahrir Square and set it alight, in Cairo, Egypt. On Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Egypt's army chief warns of "the collapse of the state" if political crisis continues. (AP Photo/Mostafa El Shemy)— AP

In this Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 photo, Egyptian protesters use camera phones to capture a burning state security armored vehicle that demonstrators commandeered during clashes with security forces nearby and brought to Tahrir Square and set it alight, in Cairo, Egypt. On Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Egypt's army chief warns of "the collapse of the state" if political crisis continues. (AP Photo/Mostafa El Shemy)
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In this Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 photo, an Egyptian protester take cover beside a vehicle damaged during clashes between protesters and Egyptian security forces in Downtown Cairo, Egypt. On Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, Egypt's army chief warns of "the collapse of the state" if political crisis continues. (AP/Virginie Nguyen Hoang)— AP

In this Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 photo, an Egyptian protester take cover beside a vehicle damaged during clashes between protesters and Egyptian security forces in Downtown Cairo, Egypt. On Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, Egypt's army chief warns of "the collapse of the state" if political crisis continues. (AP/Virginie Nguyen Hoang)
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In this Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 photo, an Egyptian protester takes a break while others use green laser pointers during clashes between protesters and Egyptian security forces in Downtown Cairo, Egypt. On Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, Egypt's army chief warned of "the collapse of the state" if the political crisis continues. (AP Photo/Virginie Nguyen Hoang)— AP

In this Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 photo, an Egyptian protester takes a break while others use green laser pointers during clashes between protesters and Egyptian security forces in Downtown Cairo, Egypt. On Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, Egypt's army chief warned of "the collapse of the state" if the political crisis continues. (AP Photo/Virginie Nguyen Hoang)
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An Egyptian boy shows birdshot wounds on his body according to him, in Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Egypt’s army chief warned Tuesday of the “the collapse of the state” if the political crisis roiling the nation for nearly a week continues, but said the armed forces will respect the right of Egyptians to protest. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)— AP

An Egyptian boy shows birdshot wounds on his body according to him, in Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Egypt’s army chief warned Tuesday of the “the collapse of the state” if the political crisis roiling the nation for nearly a week continues, but said the armed forces will respect the right of Egyptians to protest. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
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Egyptian boys cover their mouths during clashes with security forces, not pictured, near Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Egypt’s army chief warned Tuesday of the “the collapse of the state” if the political crisis roiling the nation for nearly a week continues, but said the armed forces will respect the right of Egyptians to protest. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)— AP

Egyptian boys cover their mouths during clashes with security forces, not pictured, near Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Egypt’s army chief warned Tuesday of the “the collapse of the state” if the political crisis roiling the nation for nearly a week continues, but said the armed forces will respect the right of Egyptians to protest. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
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An Egyptian protester displays used ordinance as others, not pictured, celebrate the capture of a state security armored vehicle that demonstrators commandeered during clashes with security forces and brought to Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Egypt’s army chief warned Tuesday of the “the collapse of the state” if the political crisis roiling the nation for nearly a week continues, but said the armed forces will respect the right of Egyptians to protest. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)— AP

An Egyptian protester displays used ordinance as others, not pictured, celebrate the capture of a state security armored vehicle that demonstrators commandeered during clashes with security forces and brought to Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Egypt’s army chief warned Tuesday of the “the collapse of the state” if the political crisis roiling the nation for nearly a week continues, but said the armed forces will respect the right of Egyptians to protest. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
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FILE - In this Monday, Aug. 13, 2012 file photo, Egyptian Minister of Defense, Lt. Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, left, meets with Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi in Cairo, Egypt. Thousands of mourners chanting for the downfall of Egypt's president marched in funerals again Tuesday in the restive city of Port Said as the army chief warned the state could collapse if the latest political crisis drags on. (AP Photo/Egyptian Presidency, File)— AP

FILE - In this Monday, Aug. 13, 2012 file photo, Egyptian Minister of Defense, Lt. Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, left, meets with Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi in Cairo, Egypt. Thousands of mourners chanting for the downfall of Egypt's president marched in funerals again Tuesday in the restive city of Port Said as the army chief warned the state could collapse if the latest political crisis drags on. (AP Photo/Egyptian Presidency, File)
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Egyptian protesters celebrate the capture of a state security armored vehicle that demonstrators commandeered during clashes with security forces and brought to Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Egypt’s army chief warned Tuesday of the “the collapse of the state” if the political crisis roiling the nation for nearly a week continues, but said the armed forces will respect the right of Egyptians to protest. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)— AP

Egyptian protesters celebrate the capture of a state security armored vehicle that demonstrators commandeered during clashes with security forces and brought to Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Egypt’s army chief warned Tuesday of the “the collapse of the state” if the political crisis roiling the nation for nearly a week continues, but said the armed forces will respect the right of Egyptians to protest. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
/ AP

PORT SAID, Egypt 
Residents of this Mediterranean coastal city burying their dead from Egypt's wave of political violence vented their fury at Egypt's Islamist president and the Muslim Brotherhood on Tuesday, demanding his ouster and virtually declaring a revolt against his rule, as the head of the military warned Egypt may collapse under the weight of its turmoil.

Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi' strongly worded comments, his first since the crisis began, appeared aimed at pushing both sides in Egypt's political divide to reconcile and find a solution to the rapidly spreading protests and riots across much of the country the past six days.

But his breaking of his silence falls heaviest on President Mohammed Morsi, who has been unable to contain the unrest by trying a tough hand, as protesters defied his declaration of a month-long state of emergency and curfew in Port Said and two neighboring cities.

At least 60 people have been killed and hundreds injured since Thursday in clashes between police and protesters angry over what they call Islamists' moves to monopolize power and failure to address the country's multiple woes. In his comments, el-Sissi signaled the military would not move to put down protesters, saying troops are in a "grave predicament," forced to balance between "avoiding confrontation" with citizens and protecting state institutions.

In Cairo on Tuesday, rock-throwing protesters clashed with police firing tear gas for another day in battles that escalated after nightfall near Tahrir Square. The mayhem forced the nearby U.S. Embassy to suspend public services Tuesday, and the night before masked men tried to rob the neighboring five-star Semiramis Hotel, a Cairo landmark, trashing the lobby before being forced out.

Protesters in many cities around the country have battled police, cut off roads and railway lines and besieged government offices and police stations. But the most dramatic fraying of state control has been in the three cities along the Suez Canal, particularly Port Said, at the canal's Mediterranean end.

Violence exploded in Port Said on Saturday, leaving more than 40 dead since. The provincial governor has gone into hiding. Police are hunkered down. Tanks are in the streets by government buildings, but army troops have balked at enforcing Morsi's curfew order. Residents in all three cities flouted the restrictions with huge marches in the streets Monday and Tuesday night.

"The independent state of Port Said," proclaimed one protester's sign as thousands marched through the city Tuesday in funeral processions for two of those killed in the unrest.

"Down, down with the rule of the Guide," mourners chanted, referring to the Brotherhood's top leader, known as the general guide, who opponents see as the real power behind Morsi's government.

Mourners carried images of young men shot to death by police and accused Morsi of ordering the security forces to open fire. Many said the Islamist president should be put on trial like ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak, who was sentenced to life in prison in connection with the deaths of hundreds of protesters during the 2011 uprising against his rule, though he has been granted a retrial on appeal.